NACOGDOCHES - For U.S. fans, the biggest moment of the World Cup so far has been the goal scored by Clint Dempsey, a Texas native, against England, which brought the score to 1-1.
The 27-year-old midfielder is one of only two American players in soccer history with goals in multiple World Cups, which is not bad for a boy, who said in middle school that he would grow up to be a soccer star.
Everyone's chiming in about the small east Texas town of Nacogdoches. Drive around and you can see the pride, even at a local bank. On the marquee you can read: World Cup gooaaal by Clint Dempsey.
Their hometown hero, Dempsey, scored the only goal for the U.S. in the World Cup opener, the 25-yard shot skipped off the ground twice, bypassing England's goalkeeper.
His little brother, Lance, was watching.
Lance has a soccer sanctuary, keeping up with every memento and mention of Dempsey's rise to fame.
His family is ecstatic that Dempsey's goal tied the score Saturday and gave the U.S. a 1-1 draw.
It's awesome. I'm a lot more popular on my Facebook because of my brother, said Lance.
His former high school coach says Dempsey was the most determined player the Nacogdoches Dragons had ever seen.
Actually, he puts us on a map and the rest of the world now knows where Nacogdoches is and it's encouraging to kids, said Farshid Niroumand.
Dempsey came from humble beginnings. He used to live in a mobile home behind his grandmother's place and a yard became the soccer field on which he learned to play the game.
Dempsey's birthday cakes as a kid even showed his love for soccer. He played with the best clubs, thanks to his parents' willingness to make six-hour round trips in one day.
They were driving to Dallas twice a week and sacrificing their time, their work hours and sleep and finance part of it. It's a lot of burden and hopefully it has paid off, Niroumand said.
It's paid off in a big way, a Texas boy living a dream for all the world to see.
E-mail: ddenmon@wfaa.com
